Teen Misses Exam Because She's Homeless; State Does The Right Thing And Arranges For College

Rosa Bracero and her mother, Rosario, in Brooklyn. Credit: Anthony DelMundo, New York Daily News

A high school senior was unable to take the last exam she needed to graduate -- because she was homeless.

However, ParentDish has learned that the 17-year-old will be able to start college next month, although she will still have to take the exam in June to get her high school Regents diploma.

The Bracero family was evicted from their home last week and went to an intake center to try and find a place to stay, according to a report in the New York Daily News. Rosa Bracero, 17, told the center's staff she had to go take her English Regents exam, a standardized test administered in a few states, in order to graduate from Brooklyn's High School for Civil Rights. She was informed that if she left, her family would be denied shelter. So Rosa stayed, missing the exam.

"Given that the State does not allow make-up Regents exams, we will continue to work with this student so that she can take the exam and go to college," wrote Danny Kanner, spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education, in an email to ParentDish on Friday.

Hopping on the helpful bandwagon, Jonathan Burman of the New York State Education Department sent ParentDish a statement as well.

"Working together with the high school's principal, the City's central administration, and Lincoln Technical Institute, we achieved a favorable solution: Lincoln Tech, the college Rosa wants to attend, has accepted her and will permit her to begin taking classes on February 16th," wrote Burman. "She will be able to take the Regents exam in June and will graduate at that time."

Burman added: "Unlike most states, we offer these exams three times a year so that students have multiple opportunities to take and pass them. Because of the need for security, the exams can be given only at the times they are scheduled."

So Rosa will still have to wait for the Regents exam and her high school diploma, but she will be able to start college in the meantime.

It also seems that Rosa's unfortunate circumstances may lead to some changes at the New York City Department of Homeless Services. ParentDish received the following statement via email from Department spokesperson Heather Janik.

"The Department of Homeless Services is revamping our policy so that once a family presents at the intake center, a student may be excused from the shelter application process for important exams that do not offer make-up sessions, like Regents or some college preparatory exams, while their family continues to be processed, " wrote Janik. "The incident of a student missing the Regents Exam was unfortunate and unusual, but these steps will ensure that no child faces a similar situation again."

Although the circumstances of Rosa Bracero's case are unusual, the New York State Board of Regents' strict policy on only allowing students to take exams on specific dates has come up in the past. In 2009, snow-related school closings forced the cancellation of many students' Regents exams, and make up tests were not offered.

The same thing occurred in 2004; in that case, students whose schools were closed were offered the option of substituting a passing grade for the test, or waiting until June, according to The New York Times. The catch -- if students chose not to take the exam in June, they would receive a local diploma rather than the more prestigious Regents diploma.

The Braceros have been homeless in the past but managed to get back on their feet. Rosario Bracero, Rosa's mother, lost her job in April of last year, causing her to fall behind on the rent while living on a temp worker's salary. The Bracero family includes Rosa, her brother, a sister-in-law and two baby nieces, according to the Daily News.

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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 8)

Let her take the exam now so she can move on to college and become a productive part of society and get off the dole...

It's not all black and white. This young woman is a victim of circumstances beyond her control. There are many shades of gray in between the extremes and if we ignore the many possibilities available, we deny ourselves the opportunity to grow as individuals, therefore denying society the fuel it needs to function and grow, as well.

We must remain flexible, otherwise we become brittle and break. If all you can see is the black and white, you doom yourself to a life lacking luster, joy, and growth.

She's being accepted to college even without passing the test, which she will be allowed to take the test at the next test offering. This type of test can NOT just be given a standard make - up and has nothing to do with red tape. It sadly has to do with minimizing the lying and cheating that the students who are about to take the test can get away with.

If we want to focus in on the red tape, it would be the situation at the shelter that told her that if she left possessing that her family would be denied (which might point to the fact that her family went to the shelter the same day as the test - and even know I know you are going to bash me for this - shows either poor or great planning on her family's part). I mean, she gets a whole 4 more months to study for the test, but still gets to start college anyway.

Ummm, quilloden ... it seems to me from reading the entire article (go ahead, try it some time!) that the school district and the administrators of public education in NY, NY have been very flexible! They're allowing the girl to attend the college she chose and she'll take the test the next time it's offered. What do you find objectionable about that solution, pray tell?

No, Rob. They didn't bother to read the article, because they represent the masses of idiots who FAIL the English regents exams. This kid is not being held back, and in fact, this is a positive story in how the "system" has worked to help a downtrodden kid out. Some people are just addicted to being outraged, and they tend to the least studious of the nation... hence the poor reading skills and over emotional reaction.

What an eloquent and intelligent post. Thank you for saying something that is worth reading. It would be easier to understand the rigidity of the regents testing system if students were required to take one test during one year of their high school career, but kids need to take multiple regents tests over the entire span of high school. My goodness, heads up kids-make sure to not get ill, don't have an accident,make sure no one you know dies, don't lose your place to live,and of course make sure that there are no snow storms,hurricanes,floods or any other disasters........we wouldn't want you to miss the testing every year that is required so that you may graduate and get the reagents diploma that you worked so very hard to earn. Is it me, or does this not make you want to bang your head against the wall in frustration and disbelief.How dare a child be poor in this booming economy(ahem)and have the audacity to miss a ridiculous, but mandatory state test that can not be rescheduled because we are more worried about children cheating or getting an unfair advantage or spending too much money to realize how pathetic this system is. I wish this young lady all the best and hope that she succeeds in spite of our mass ignorance.

Hey Ron.. you ever think that a higher education.. REGAURDLESS of who pays for it might make for a better future for the youth of today? That maybe if she gets the shot that alot of kids don't get that she'll do great things? If it weren't for the FAFSA program and other government and local financial aid programs..a good chunk of the population could never attend college. Get your head out of your rear and try it some time.

Rob and Reading is a dying skill>>>Get over yourselves. People did in fact read this article and the one posted before. The only reason these changes are occurring is because people like quilloden and myself blogged on the previous article how messed up the system is. With public criticism, changes to Rosa's situation came. Nothing was happening without the statements and actions of other. Sometimes situations need to be addressed on an individual basis not in a vacuum.

did you read the story? what results? she didn't take the test. she couldn't . maybe you should live by this quote........." it is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think your dumb than to open your mouth and prove them right"

This is horrible!! Such an injustice to this family! This poor girl is trying to do everything right and ends up getting screwed by our wonderful system of government assistance. Let's not give someone the possibility to work hard and make something of themselves - let's make it as difficult as possible and push them into giving up.

I'm appalled at what I'm reading!! You got to be kidding!@??!?! A young ambitious lady would like to make more of her life and help her dire circumstances and is held back because of what? Red tape and governmental disorder. For shame on everyone on that board!!!!!!!

Seriously! Some of these people on here must have had a perfect life!!! Maybe a few of them should experience homelessness once! All it takes is one bad thing to happen in your life and your world can change completely! My daughter needed brain surgery and being divorced and having no family to help, I ended up unemployed trying to care for her alone!!! Two simple credit cards for which I could not make the payments on, took me DOWN! If you've never had to experience that in your world then count your blessings! The guy that came to the conclusion that maybe the family became homeless at an oppertune time-WOW ya I bet thats exactly why they chose to go live in a homeless shelter! Buddy- drive down to your local homeless shelter and check it out once!!! Then rethink that comment! Also for the one complaining about who is gonna pay for her college education if she passes this test, maybe a better solution would be to NOT allow her to make up the test and then she can be a drop out and maybe she can live her whole life in that homeless shelter! Who the hell do you think is paying for that? WOW I would think even if this was coming directly out of that persons pocket, that he'd rather pay for 2 or 4 years of college, then a life of welfare payments because of some stupid rule that someone apparently should have taken situations into consideration and allowed the girl to leave in the first place! Sometimes people should just step back and reread some of the things they post and think about there own lives or other people they know and consider being a little kinder at heart! WWJD? Bless this girl and her family and I hope there life gets back on track asap!

Very simple solution: let Lincoln Tech waive the regents requirements in her case, and allow her to begin college as planned. After all, she already scored 490 of a possible 500 on the school's own exam. This, I believe, is better than most people out there can achieve.